New data on the historical and expanded range of Proterorhinus marmoratus (Pallas, 1814) (Teleostei: Gobiidae) in eastern Europe

Abstract

Summary A review of historical and recent area of distribution of tubenose goby Proterorhinus marmoratus was undertaken using critical analysis of published literature, data from two large fish collections (Natural History Museum, Kiev, Ukraine, and Zoological Institute, St Petersburg, Russia), personal collections of the authors sampled during extensive field activities in 1998–2004, and unpublished reports of the Institute of Lake and River Fisheries in Volgograd. Historically, riverine P. marmoratus from the Black Sea–Azov basin were distributed in the upper reaches of the rivers Dnieper and the Don even before the construction of water retention structures; this form at present has demonstrated only limited upstream range expansion. The native Caspian tubenose goby is mostly connected with sea and delta habitats. We adduce some arguments for the tubenose goby’s recent invasion of the Middle and Upper Volga as a result of introductions of the Don–Azov riverine form rather than upstream dispersal of the Caspian marine form.